Adjustable concrete deck forming platform

ABSTRACT

An adjustable and collapsible forming platform including an elongated forming surface or forming deck having at least two pairs of legs mounted for swinging movement between an inwardly moved collapsed position and an outwardly moved girder-engaged platform-orientating position. The legs of each pair are interconnected by a collapsible spreader bar which locks the legs open. In addition, each of the legs is longitudinally adjustable, as are the spreader bars, so as to vary and adjust the final orientation of the forming deck itself. A wrecking platform is also incorporated in the invention and operates so as to automatically collapse and remove the forming platform subsequent to the formation of the concrete deck through an engagement with the spreader bars in a manner so as to cause a folding thereof and the legs therewith, the forming platform collapsing and dropping out to the wrecking platform.

United States Patent [72] inventor [21] Appl. No. [22] Filed [45] Patented [54 ADJUSTABLE CONCRETE neck FORMING 131 Z, 131.6, 131.5 R, 131.5 A, 131.5 B, 131.5 C, 131.5 D, 131.5 G;249/18, 19,23,24,28,29,31,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,363,391 12/1920 Carpenter 249/31 X 3,047,931 8/1962 Boettner 25/13l.5 A X 3,058,542 10/1962 Rogalla 182/155 X 3,130,470 4/1964 Bowden et al. 25/131.5 C

3,148,434 9/1964 Gage et a1 25/l3l.6 X 3,520,508 7/1970 Sewell et al 249/18 FOREIGN PATENTS 343,1 14 1/1960 Switzerland 249/23 Primary Examiner-J. Spencer Overhoiser Assistant Examiner-43. D. Tobor ABSTRACT: An adjustable and collapsible forming platform including an elongated forming surface or forming deck having at least two pairs of legs mounted for swinging movement between an inwardly moved collapsed position and an outwardly moved girder-engaged platform-orientating position. The legs of each pair are interconnected by a collapsible spreader bar which locks the legs open. In addition, each of the legs is longitudinally adjustable, as are the spreader bars, so as to vary and adjust the final orientation of the forming deck itself. A wrecking platform is also incorporated in the invention and operates so as to automatically collapse and remove the forming platform subsequent to the formation of the concrete deck through an engagement with the spreader bars in a manner so as to cause a folding thereof and the legs therewith, the forming platform collapsing and dropping out to the wrecking platform.

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BY -Mam ADJUSTABLE CONCRETE DECK FORMING PLATFORM The instant invention is generally concerned with the formation of concrete decks, normally girder supported roadways on bridges, elevated highways, and the like. More particularly, the invention herein involved is directed toward unique forming apparatus for such concrete decks which apparatus is of a naturewhereby installation and removal as a unit is possible.

Other important features of the instant invention reside in the provision of prefabricated forming apparatus which can be quickly erected and removed in a minimum amount of time, eliminating the expansive and time-consuming manual construction heretofore required for deck-pouring form work and substantially reducing the costs involved, primarily through the completely reusable nature of the forming platform and the fact that the forming platform can be completely installed, aside possibly from the final leveling adjustment thereof, by unskilled labor.

Other advantages residing in the forming platform of the instant invention include the provision of adjustable components both with regard to the forming deck itself and with regard to the supporting structure therefor.

Attention is also directed to the provision of a wrecking platform in conjunction with the forming platform which is particularly constructed and so orientated during the operation thereof as to effect an automatic collapsing and removing of the forming platform downwardly away from the formed concrete deck without requiring the presence of workmen beneath the collapsing forming platform, the forming platform, upon removal through the operation of the wrecking platform, being immediately available for reuse.

Basically, the objects and advantages of the instant invention arise from the provision of a forming platform which includes a flat forming deck supported by a plurality of pairs of legs with the legs of each pair interconnected by a collapsible spreader bar for a selective extension and retraction of the legs. The legs, upon being collapsed, are easily positioned between a pair of support girders for an engagement therewith upon a spreading of the legs. The legs in turn are adjustable so as to level the forming deck supported thereby for the subsequent pouring of the concrete deck. The legs are arranged in pairs separated by collapsible spreader bars which, in addition to stabilizing the legs, are so orientated as to receive and react to an introduced wrecking platform for effecting an inward collapsing of the legs so as to enable a vertical removal of the forming platform, thus completing the forming operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent residue in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate two steps in the installation of the forming platform of this invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates the installed forming platform with a concrete deck poured thereover;

FIGS 4, 5 and 6 sequentially illustrate the removal of the forming platform through the utilization of the wrecking platform;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the forming platform of the instant invention with a portion thereof broken away for purposes of illustration;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the platform, portions being broken away for purposes of illustration;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 9-9 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail taken substantially on a plane passing along line 10-10 in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional detail taken substantially on a plane passing along line 11-11 in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail taken substantially on a plane passing along line 12-12 in FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail taken substantially on a plane passing along line 13-13 in FIG. 9;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of one end portion of the wrecking platform;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating a modified form of the forming platform installed between a pair of adjacent girders;

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of a portion of the forming platform of FIG. 15 with a portion broken away for purposes of illustration;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 17-17 in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail taken substantially on a plane passing along line 18-18 in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a partial top plan view of another form of forming platform;

FIG. 20 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 20-20 in FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view illustrating a further type of platform construction;

FIG. 22 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail taken substantially on a plane passing along line 22-22 in FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail taken substantially on a plane passing along line 23-23 in FIG. 21;

FIG. 24 is an elevational detail of a platform support wherein the leg and the spreader bar incorporate length adjusting extensions;

FIG. 25 is an enlarged detailed view illustrating the adjustability of one form of adjustable foot; and

FIG. 26 is an enlarged view of one of the section lengthening extensions.

Referring now to more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 20 is used to generally designate the forming platform comprising the instant invention. The platform 20 includes an elongated, flat, steel, forming deck 22 having the opposite longitudinal edges 24 thereof curled downwardly and inwardly so as to form smooth girder-engaging edges. The steel forming deck 22 will nonnally be covered by an appropriate plywood forming surface 26 screwed, taped or otherwise removably secured to the steel deck 22, the plywood providing for a common or continuous smooth surface between adjacent forming platforms.

The basic forming deck or table 22 is braced and supported from beneath by a plurality of transversely extending angle iron beams 28 orientated with the upper flange paralleling the undersurface of the steel deck 22 and welded directly thereto. The outer ends of the transverse beams 28 terminate just short of the curved reentrant edges 24 with the corresponding edges of the beams 28 being interconnected by a full length underlying plate 30 welded thereto for introducing additional stability. The deck structure is additionally supported and stabilized by a plurality of longitudinally extending angle iron braces 32 which extend between and are welded directly to adjacent ones of the transverse beams 28 along the full length of the deck and at laterally spaced points thereacross. The longitudinally extending braces 32 also of course engage against and are welded to the overlying steel forming deck 22.

The transverse beams 28 are normally positioned approximately 2 feet apart. However, at spaced points along the forming platform 20, for'example, 3 feet in from each end of a 14- foot platform, a pair of the transverse beams 28 are positioned approximately 8 inches apart in parallel relation to each other so as to constitute a portion of the mounting structure for a pair of adjustable support legs 34. A pair of vertical plates 36 are welded or otherwise rigidly fixed to and depend from the pair of leg mounting beams 23 approximately midway between the longitudinal center of the platform 20 and each longitudinal edge thereof. An elongated pipe section 38 is rotatably received through each pair of depending plates 36 and spans the space therebetween, appropriate lock collars 40 precluding any longitudinal shifting of the rotatable pipe 38. An elongated adjusting bolt 42, constituting the upper portion of the corresponding leg 34, includes an unthreaded upper portion 44 rotatably received through the corresponding pipe 38 centrally between the pipe-supporting plates 36. This unthreaded upper portion 44 of the adjusting bolt 42 is retained against longitudinal. movement through the pipe 38 by means of a positioning collar 46 welded to the upper end portion of the bolt 42 immediately above the plate 38 and a similar collar 48 welded to the bolt 42 below the pipe 38 and sandwiching an appropriate thrust washer 50 therebetween so as to accommodate the thrust on the leg 34 and still enable an adjustment of the effective length of the leg 34 through manipulation of the adjusting bolt 42. The actual manipulation of the bolt 42 is effected through an appropriate toolreceiving hexhead 52 provided on the extreme upper end thereof. In turn, the major portion of the length of each of the legs 34 consists of an elongated tubular section 54 having an internally threaded nut 56 affixed to the upper end thereof and threadedly receiving the lower threaded portion 60 of the adjusting bolt 42 whereby upon a rotation of the bolt 42, a corresponding extension or retraction of the tubular leg section 54 relative thereto will be effected. Incidentally, access to the tool-receiving heads 52 on the upper ends of the adjusting bolts 42 will be effected through the provision of removable panels 62 in the overlying forming deck 22 as well as the plywood forming face provided thereon. Noting FIG. in particular, the nature and support of the removable access panels 62 will best be appreciated. Finally, the lower end of each leg 34 is provided with a foot 64 formed by an elongated plate arcuately curved so as to encompass the lower end of the lower tubular section 54 to which it is rigidly welded and for which it provides an enlarged smooth bearing surface.

The lower end portion of each pair of legs 34 is interconnected by a collapsible spreader bar or member 66. Each spreader bar 66 includes a first tubular end section 68 having a yoke structure 70 on one end thereof pivotally connected to one of the legs 34, and a similar yoke structure 72 at the other end thereof straddling and pivotally engaging one end of a tubular central section 74 of the spreader bar 66. A third section 76 of the spreader bar 66 includes an elongated rigid rod 78 having a leg straddling yoke 80 fixed to one end thereof and pivotally pinned to the second leg .34. The opposite end of the rod 78 is provided with an externally threaded sleeve 82 rotatably mounted thereon and retained between appropriate collar or pin means 84 for precluding a longitudinal movement of the sleeve 82 on the rod 78 while allowing a rotational movement thereof. This externally threaded sleeve 82 is in turn threaded within an internally threaded nut 86 affixed to the second end of the hollow tubular intermediate section 74 whereby, upon rotation of the sleeve 82, a selective extension and retraction of the sections 74 and 76 relative to each other will be effected so as to vary the spread distance between the lower portions of the legs 34. The actual rotation of the sleeve 82 will be effected through an enlarged control disk or plate 88 provided thereon and including a series a tool-receiving holes 90 which can be engaged with an appropriate hooklike tool introduced through the access opening provided in the overlying forming deck. In other words, the hooked end of an appropriate tool would be engaged within one of the holes 90 to either side of the sleeve 82 and an upward force exerted so as to cause the sleeve 82 to rotate in the corresponding direction.

With particular reference to FIGS. 4-6, it will be noted that the legs 34 are collapsed or moved inward relative to each other by means of an upward breaking of the spreader bar 66 at the hinge or pivot joint between the sections 68 and 74. By the same token, the legs 34 are locked in their outer spread position by a downward movement of the spreader bar sections to a point just past center after which a pair of upwardly extending stops 94 abut each other and define the spread position of the bar 66. These stops 94, as will be best appreciated from FIGS. 9 and 13, are rigidly affixed, as by welding, to the adjoining pivotally interconnected ends of the bar sections 68 and 74.

In order to introduce lateral stability to the forming platform 20, an adjustable stop unit 96 is associated with each leg 34. Each stop unit 96 includes an outwardly and downwardly inclined rigid plate 98 welded to the leg-mounting beams 34.

immediately outward of the corresponding pair of plates 36. At a point toward the lower end of the plate 98 a transverse bolt-receiving opening 100 is provided, this opening 100 aligning with an internally threaded nut 102 welded to the inner face of theplate for the threaded reception of an elongated adjusting bolt M04. The inner end 106 of the bolt 104 is provided with a bearing surface which engages against an enlarged bearing plate 108 affixed to the outer upper surface of the corresponding leg 34 thereby acting as a stop to the outward swinging of the corresponding leg 34. The adjustment of the bolt 104 is of course effect from the enlarged tool receiving head 110 provided on the outer end thereof. The plate 98 is further stabilized by a pair of inwardly directed side flanges I12 welded to both the overlying beams 28 and appropriate angle iron cross brace means 114 welded to and extending between the outer lower comers of the pair of depending plates 36. In this manner, it will also be appreciated that a protective enclosure is provided about the adjustable bolt 108 and the upper end of the corresponding leg 34. With both legs 34 of each pair of spreader bar interconnected legs, in the spread position thereof, being engaged by the stop units, and more particularly the abutment-forming head of the associated adjusting bolts 104, it will be appreciated that a lateral swaying of the legs 34 relative to the forming deck will be precluded.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the manner of installing the forming platform 20 will be explained. Initially, the platform 20, with the legs 34 collapsed inwardly through an upward folding of the spreader bar, is suspended by appropriate cable means 116 from an overhead carrier, such as for example, a crane or the like. The cables 116, normally at least two being provided for engagement with the platform 20 at spaced points therealong, can be engaged with the forming platform in any suitable manner, such as by means of a yoke forming strap 118 engaged with the substructure of the platform 20 through the spaced access openings normally closed by the removable access panels 62. The forming platform 20 is lowered between a pair of adjacent girders 120 and once the legs 34, or least a major portion thereof, have cleared the enlarged heads 122 of the girders 120, the legs 34 are manually swung outward so as to lock in position through the spreader bar 66 falling into its extended position limited by the stops 94. The forming platform 20 is then lowered until the transversely elongated arcuate feet 64 rest upon the enlarged bases 124 of the opposed girders 120. At this point, the forming deck, comprising the steel plate 22 and plywood cover 26, is generally aligned with the top of the opposed girders 120 with the final elevation of the forming deck being effected through an adjustment of the length of the legs 34. Through these adjustments, the forming deck itself can either be orientated completely horizontal or canted slightly to form a slope for the roadway or bridge drainage. By the same token, it will be appreciated that the adjusting plate 88 is also accessible through the access opening for any necessary adjustment in the length of the spreader bar 66 so as to properly seat the forming platform 20 in position. After the forming platform 20 has been properly located and orientated, the access panels are replaced and the concrete deck 126 poured. Incidentally, it should be noted that additional stability is introduced into the girder supported platform 20 by means of elongated stabilizers or stabilizing bars 128 which extend, normally in pairs, longitudinally along the length of the forming platform 20 between the legs 34 on each longitudinal side of the platform 20, these stabilizers 128 also functioning so as to produce a synchronized collapsing and expanding of the pairs of legs 34.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that an erection of the forming platform 20 has been effected without requiring the presence of workmen below the platform itself, the only manual work being performed is the outward pulling of the legs 34 from the sides of the forming platform by workmen located on the opposed girders 120 which are to support the platform 20. As will be appreciated, a series of platforms 20 can be provided so as to accommodate the length of pour.

Once the concrete deck 126 has set or sufficiently rigidified so as to be self sustaining, the forming platform 26 is automatically removed through the utilization of a wrecking platform 130, also without the presence of workmen below the forming platform 20. The wrecking platform 130 includes an elongated scaffold deck 132 mounted for vertical movement toward and away from the overlying forming platform 20, normally through electric hoist winching units or the like mounted to the opposed sides of the roadway being formed and engaged with the opposed end of the scaffold at 132 for the control raising and lowering thereof. The scaffold deck 132 in turn mounts an elongated wrecking member 134 which is in the nature of a formed beam elongated longitudinally along the length of the forming platform 20. The wrecking member 134 includes an elongated vertically orientated plate 136 provided with an arcuate head 138 welded along the upper edge thereof, this head 138 being directly engageable with the spreader bar 66 as shall be explained presently. The plate 136 has a laterally directed integral shoulder portion 140 along the lower edge thereof, this shoulder 140 in turn terminating in a full length integral depending portion 142 from which an integral relatively wide base flange 144 extends. The base flange 144, as will be appreciatedfrom the drawings, underlies the shoulder 140 and extends beyond the vertical plate 136, terminating in a reversely curled end portion 146. The base 144 is rigidly affixed to the scaffold deck 132, possibly by releasable bolts should adjustment be desired, and is so orien tated as to position the elongated head 138 directly below and in alignment with the pivot joint between the spreader bar sections 68 and 74. Thus, noting the sequence of steps set forth in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, as the wrecking unit or platform 130 is elevated, the elongated arcuate head 138 engages the joint between the spreader bar sections 68 and 74 causing the spreader bars to break upwardly and the legs 34 consequently fold inwardly so as to clear the girder bases 124. It will be noted that the pivot joint in each spreader bar 66 is located closer to one leg 34 than the other due to the relatively shorter length of the spreader bar section 68 as compared to the combined lengths of the nonpivoting sections 74 and 76. As the spreader bar 66 breaks, the legs 34 fastened to the shorter spreading bar section 68 swings downwardly onto the shoulder 140 of the wrecking member 134 while the second leg 34 is free to fall down to the scaffold deck 132, thereby providing for a positive canting of the forming platform 20 so as to clear the girder bases 124. The vertically removed forming platform 20 will, upon a clearing of the girders 120, either remain in the elevated position of FIG. 6 or collapse completely on the scaffold platform 132, thus completing the form-removing operation and freeing the platform 20 for reuse.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. -18, a modified type of forming platform 148 has been illustrated therein. The primary difference between the forming platform 148 and the previously described platform resides in the fact that the steel forming deck 150 itself is laterally adjustable so as to accommodate variations in spacing between the support girders 120.

The lateral adjustment of the forming deck 150 is provided for by the formation of the deck 150 into two elongated sections 152, each slidably mounted on a supporting framework 154. The supporting framework 154, for purposes of rigidity and stability, is preferably formed of channel members arranged so as to provide transversely extending beams 156 and longitudinally extending interconnecting bracing beams or braces 158. Selected ones of the channel-shaped braces 158 define a pair of inwardly opening opposed laterally spaced channels centrally along the forming platform 148. Each of the deck sections 152 includes a downwardly curled outer edge 160 and an inner edge defined by a series of projections and recesses or tongues and grooves with the projections also incorporating downwardly curled edges 162. The projections and recesses of the two sections 152 intemest with each other with the curled edges being received between the channels defined by the centrally located braces 158. Thus, the range of lateral adjustment of the two sections 152 extends between an outermost position whereby the curled edges 162 engage with the inwardly directed upper flanges 164 of the corresponding centrally located brace members 158, and an inward position whereby a substantially complete nesting of the two section edges is effected. These curled projection edges 162 are also of significance as a means for preventing a sliding of the sections off of the supporting framework 154 during a collapsing of the forming platform as suggested in FIGS. 4-6. It will of course be appreciated that the inner edges of the deck sections 152 will have the mating projections and grooves thereon modified as needed so as to accommodate the transversely extending beams 156. Finally, once the deck sections 152 have been laterally adjusted so as to completely fill the space between the girders 120, the plywood forming surface 166 can be mounted, this surface 166 possibly including a field cut edge strip so as to closely conform to the adjusted size of the deck 150.

With regard to the support structure for the deck 150, such includes the same leg and spreader arrangement described supra in conjunction with the forming platform 20, and as such, like reference numerals have been utilized on the drawings.

Another form of platform 168, also incorporating a laterally adjustable deck 170, has been illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 20. The adjustable deck 170 includes a longitudinally extending central section 172 fixed to a series of transversely extending beams 174 in spaced relation thereover by a series of angle members 176 and two longitudinally extending side sections 178. Each of the side sections 178 overlaps the corresponding edge portion of the intermediate section 172 and is slidably supported for movement laterally thereof by means of an angle bar 180 affixed to the undersurface thereof and depending therefrom for sliding engagement with a horizontal plate 182 provided on the subjacent beams 174. Each of the angle bars 180 includes a-plate 184 fixed to the vertical leg thereof and constituting a portionof the sliding support which engages the corresponding wear plate 182.

The lateral adjustment of the two deck side sections 178 is effected by elongated shafts 186 rotatably received through bearing blocks 188 mounted below the intermediate deck section 172 and on the support bars 176 for this section. The opposite ends of each shaft 186 are oppositely threaded and threadedly received within nuts 190 affixed to the plates 184 or angle bar supports 180 for the adjustable deck sections 178 whereby, upon a rotation of the shaft 186, a corresponding synchronized outward or inward movement of the sections 178 is effected, thus resulting in a corresponding increase or decrease in the effective width of the forming deck 170. The rotation of the shaft 186 is effected through engagement of an appropriate tool with a polygonal central portion 192 thereof, accessible through a removable panel 194 provided in the fixed intermediate deck section 172.

The outer longitudinal edge of each of the adjustable side sections 178 is provided with an integral downtumed flange 196 on which is bolted a beam-engaging wood strip 198 so as to facilitate a positive seal against the adjacent support beams. This outer edge portion of each of the adjustable deck sections 178 is further rigidified and braced by appropriate brace rods 200 extending between the outer edge portion of the section 178 and the support angle 180.

The support structure for the forming platform 1.68 consists basically of a pair of legs 202, each including an elongated tubular section 204, the upper end portion of which is pivotally secured between a closely spaced pair of said support beams 174, and the lower end of which has an internally threaded nut 206 welded thereto. An elongated shaft 288 extends rotatably in the tubular member 284 and has at least the lower portion thereof externally threaded for threaded reception in the mounted nut 206. The extreme lower end of the shaft 288 mounts a girder-engaging foot 210, while the extreme upper end of the shaft 208 includes a polygonal tool-receiving head 212 generally orientated for easy access thereto upon removal of the access panel 194. In this manner, the effective length of the two legs 202 can be adjusted to accommodate the particular situation. The outward swinging of the legs 202 is limited by a pair of stops, each including a rodlike member 214 affixed to the outer end portion of one of the adjacent transverse beams 174 and having, at the lower end thereof, an arcuate seat 216 against which the outwardly swung corresponding leg 202 engages. Finally, an appropriate spreader bar 218, consisting of two pivotally engaged sections 220, extends between and is pivotally engaged with the lower end portions of the leg tubular members 204. These spreader bar sections 220 are intended to collapse upwardly in the manner of the previously described spreader bars, and includes an appropriate limit 222 for positioning and retaining the spreader bar sections in their operative position.

FIGS. 21, 22 and 23 illustrate yet another form of the supporting platform wherein the actual forming deck is adjustable so as to vary the width thereof. The platform herein is generally designated by reference numeral 224. This platform 224 includes pairs of transversely extending beams 226 engaged with and slidably adjustable relative to each other. Each of the beams 226 is in the nature of a beamlike truss, including upper and lower flanges 228 and 230, each formed of a pair of outwardly directed angle bars, and a rodlike web 232. Noting FIG. 23 in particular, one beam 226 of each pair of beams is offset vertically from the second beam 226 sufficient so as to overlap and slide on the upper and lower laterally projecting flanges 228 and 230 thereof, the relatively lower beam 226 of each pair including a guide strap 234 welded to the bottom thereof and extending laterally out and about the lower flange 230 of the relative upper beam 226. By the same token, the downwardly offset beam 228 also includes a leveling plate 236 fixed to the upper surface of the upper flange 228 thereof so as to bring the level thereof to the level of the upper flange 228 of the upper beam 226 of the pair of beams. The longitudinal adjustment of the beams 226 relative to each other is facilitated by an enlarged grasping hook 238 mounted on the lower of said beams.

Each of the beams 226 of each pair of beams projects longitudinally beyond one end of the pair of beams and mounts, on the outer end portion thereof, a pair of spaced transversely extending beams 240 which mount a pair of short beams 242 therebetween, which beams 242 in turn mount a support leg 244, and more particularly a tubular leg section 246 pivoted therebetween. The tubular leg section 246 rotatably mounts an elongated threaded shaft 248 which extends longitudinally therebelow and into threaded reception through an internally threaded nut 250 affixed to an elongated second hollow tubular section 252 whereby an adjustment in the effective length of the leg 244 can be effected through a rotation of the shaft 248, normally by means of the polygonal tool-engaging upper end 254 thereof projecting above the first tubular leg section 246. A second threaded shaft 256 is threaded through a second nut 258 fixed to the lower end of the tubular section 252, this second threaded shaft 256 pivotally mounting a girder-engaging foot 260 on the lower end thereof. In this manner, utilizing the two threaded shafts 248 and 250, a substantial adjustment can be made in the effective length of the leg 244. Normally, the lower shaft 256, carrying the foot 260 will be rotated so as to achieve the approximate length desired for the leg 244, after which the foot 260 will be seated on the lower flange of the girder, and the final leveling of the plat form effected through an adjustment of the upper threaded shaft 248.

In order to limit the outward swinging of each of the legs 244 to the desired position, an adjustable stop, in the nature of an adjustable bolt 262, is provided. This bolt 262 is threaded through a nut engaged within the innermost transverse beam 240 associated with the leg-mounting structure and so orientated as to engage the upper tubular leg sectional member 246 above the point at which the section is pivotally supported.

The legs 244, only one of which has been illustrated, are also interconnected by a collapsible spreader bar 264 which consists of an adjustable intermediate section 266 and a pair of opposed end sections 268 pivotally engaged therewith, as at 270. Each of the end sections 268 consists of a rigid trusslike unit having upper and lower chords 272 and 274 engaged with the upper and lower portions of the tubular leg member or section 252 and converging outwardly therefrom to a common end 276 which is hinged to the intermediate spreader bar section 266. Appropriate positioning abutment means 278 are also provided so as to fix the outward position of the spreader bar sections. The adjustment of the intermediate spreader bar section 266 is specifically so as to accommodate the variations in the width of the platform 224 arising from a selective extension and retraction of the beams 226 relative to each other, and will be detailed more specifically in the subsequent description of FIGS. 14-26.

Once the desired adjustment of the platform 224 has been achieved, an appropriate overlying forming deck 278 is positioned on the beams 226, utilizing appropriate wood supports, such as 2 X4s or the like. In order to facilitate a collapsing of the platform 224, the extreme ends thereof are spaced slightly from the upper flanges of the girders, this space being filled by a filler panel 280 retained horizontally by pairs of pivotally interconnected collapsible links 282. The links 282 are retained in an open bracing slightly overcenter position by a pair of abutment stops 284, one mounted on each link 282, with the downward collapsing of the links and hence downward swinging of the filler panel 280 being effected by a downward pulling on a depending chain 286 affixed to one of the links adjacent the pivotal engagement with the second link. Such a filler panel is provided along each longitudinal edge of the platform 224 and includes a plurality of the bracing links 282 for the support thereof.

With reference now to FIGS. 24, 25 and 26, there is illustrated therein a means for adjusting the effective length of a spreader bar, or an intermediate spreader bar section such as section 266 in the form of FIG. 21, as well as an alternate means for adjusting the effective length of the support legs. In both instances, elongated extension sections 288 are utilized. Them extensions or extension sections 288 consist of an elongated main body portion 290 and two reduced end portions 292 which are telescopically receivable within the hollow end portions of tubular sections 294 which make up the major portion of the length of either the spreader bar or the legs and which are also pivotally interconnected either to each other, as in the case of the breaking joint in the spreader bar, or to the other components, for example the girder-engaging foot 296 or the overlying platform-supporting framework. The extensions 288 can be provided in varying lengths so as to achieve the desired spreader bar and/or leg lengths. Incidentally, it will be noted that the pivotally mounted foot 296, in this particular instance engaged with both the spreader bar and the corresponding leg, easily adjusts so as to accommodate either a horizontal lower flange, such as when a steel girder is involved, or an angular lower flange, such as when a concrete girder is involved. The foot itself consists of a flat plate with an outwardly directed upwardly curled edge and an inwardly directed downwardly bent edge whereby a positive seating engagement is achieved.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a highly unique adjustable forming apparatus has been defined, this apparatus including both a collapsible forming platform, and a wrecking platform associated therewith for effecting an automatic release and removal of the forming platform subsequent to the use thereof in the formation of a poured deck. Utilizing the apparatus of the instant invention constitutes a significant improvement over the conventional manner of constructing roadway or bridge decks in that the forming platform is a preconstructed unit which can be lifted into place and erected between adjacent girders without requiring the presence of workmen beneath the girders or forming platform, such workmen merely standing to the side of the crane-positioned platform so as to swing the support legs outward once the heads of the opposed girders have been cleared. By the same token, the

removal of the forming platform also is effected in a manner which eliminates any necessity for workmen operating in the normally dangerous position below the formwork itself. On the contrary, the formwork is automatically collapsed and dropped downwardly to a wrecking platform controlled by appropriate hoist mechanisms located laterally of the actual forming location. Once the forming platform is removed, such being effected as an entire unit, it is immediately available for reuse, requiring no reassembly or the like.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In a concrete-forming system for use in conjunction with a pair of adjacent laterally spaced support girders incorporating enlarged heads and'bases, a preassembled forming unit and a cooperating wrecking unit, said forming unit including a deck positionable between the girder heads, and adjustable leg means fixed thereto and depending therefrom, said leg means being selectively collapsible for movement downwardly through the girder heads and selectively extensible for engagement with the enlarged girder bases of the pair of girders for a support of the forming unit deck in general alignment with the upper edges of the girders, said wrecking unit being vertically movable upward between the girders and engageable with the leg means for effecting an automatic collapsing of the leg means upon a continued upward movement of the wrecking unit, said wrecking unit including a support deck for the reception of the forming unit subsequent to a collapsing of the forming unit leg means.

2. Forming apparatus for use in conjunction with a pair of adjacent supports, said apparatus comprising a flat forming deck positionable between said supports, leg means pivotally engaged with and depending from said deck, positioning means engaged with said leg means for selectively extending said leg means for seated engagement on the adjacent supports and retracting said leg means for withdrawal from the supports, stabilizing means for fixing said leg means in the extended positions thereof, said leg means comprising at least two longitudinally spaced pairs of legs, the two legs of each pair of legs being laterally aligned with each other and pivotally engaged with the deck for swinging movement toward and away from each other so as to selectively pass between a pair of adjacent supports or engage therewith, said positioning means comprising an elongated sectional spreader bar engaged between the legs of each pair of legs, said spreader bar comprising at least two pivotally interconnected sections, each section being pivotally engaged with one of the legs of the associated pair of legs whereby folding of the sections on each other effects a movement of the legs toward each other and a movement of the sections into general longitudinal alignment with each other effects an outward swinging of the legs relative to each other, means for releasably fixing said spreader bar sections in generally longitudinal alignment with each other, said spreader bars being longitudinally adjustable, said deck being formed of a pair of coplanar adjacent longitudinally extending sections, said deck sections being laterally adjustable relative to each other so as to selectively increase or decrease the effective width of said deck, said deck sections including a pair of adjacent inner edges, the

\ inner edges of said deck sections being of mating tongue and groove configurations with the mating orientation of the inner edges enabling a lateral adjustment of the deck sections relative to each other while maintaining an area of overlap therebetween.

3. Forming apparatus for use in conjunction with a pair of adjacent supports, said apparatus comprising a flat forming deck positionable between said supports, leg means pivotally engaged with and depending from said deck, positioning means engaged with said leg means for selectively extending said leg means for seated engagement on the adjacent supports and retracting said leg means for withdrawal from the supports, stabilizing means for fixing said leg means in the extended position thereof, said leg means comprising at least two longitudinally spaced pairs of legs, the legs of each pair of legs being pivotally engaged with the deck for swinging movement toward and away from each other so as to selectively pass between a pair of adjacent supports or engage therewith, said positioning means comprising an elongated sectional spreader bar engaged between the legs of each pair of legs, said spreader bar comprising at least two pivotally interconnected sections, each section being pivotally engaged with one of the legs of the associated pair of legs-whereby folding of the sections on each other effects a movement of the legs toward each other and a movement of the sections into general longitudinal alignment with each other effects an outward swinging of the legs relative to each other, means for releasably fixing said spreader bar sections in generally longitudinal alignment with each other, said deck being formed into longitudinally extending sections, said sections comprising a fixed central section and a laterally adjustable section to each side thereof, said laterally adjustable sections enabling a selected increase or decrease in the effective width of the deck, and means for selectively extending or retracting said adjustable sections relative to the fixed central section, said last mentioned means comprising a plurality of elongated shafts extending transversely across said central section, said shafts being rotatably supported on said central section with each shaft including oppositely threaded opposite ends, each shaft having the threaded opposite ends thereof threadedly engaged with the two adjustable sections whereby a common adjustment of the adjustable sections relative to the central section will be effected upon a rotation of said shafts.

4. Forming apparatus for use in conjunction with a pair of adjacent supports, said apparatus comprising a flat forming deck positionable between said supports, leg means pivotally engaged with and depending from said deck, positioning means engaged with said leg means for selectively extending said leg means for seated engagement on the adjacent supports and retracting said leg means for withdrawal from the supports, stabilizing means for fixing said leg means in the extended position thereof, said leg means comprising at least two longitudinally spaced pairs of legs, the two legs of each pair of legs being laterally aligned with each other, one leg being located generally between the center line of the deck and each outer side edge thereof, the legs of each pair of legs being pivotally engaged with the deck for swinging movement toward and away from each other so as to selectively pass between a pair of adjacent supports or engage therewith, said positioning means comprising an elongated sectional spreader bar engaged between the legs of each pair of legs, said spreader bar comprising at least two pivotally interconnected sections, each section being pivotally engaged with one of the legs of the associated pair of legs whereby folding of the sections on each other effects a movement of the legs toward each other and a movement of the sections into general longitudinal alignment with each other effects an outward swinging of the legs relative to each other, means for releasably fixing said spreader bar sections in generally longitudinal alignment with each other, said stabilizing means comprising a stop mounted on the deck and associated with each leg to fix the outer swung position of the leg, and wrecking means selectively engageable with the spreader bar associated with each pair of legs for effecting a controlled folding of the spreader bars and a corresponding inward swinging of the legs.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein each of said legs is longitudinally adjustable.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the spreader bars are longitudinally adjustable.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the stops associated with the legs are adjustable so as to accommodate angular variations in the orientation of the legs.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 including access openings defined in said deck in overlying relation to each pair of legs, and access panels selectively closing said access openings.

9. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said deck is formed into longitudinally extending sections, said deck sections being laterally adjustable relative to each other so as to selectively increase or decrease the effective width of said deck.

10. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said wrecking means comprises a vertically adjustable platform underlying the forming deck legs, and a vertically oriented elongated wrecking member mounted on said platform in vertical alignment beneath the joint between the pivotally interconnected spreader bar sections for selective engagement therewith upon an elevation of the wrecking means platform.

11. Forming apparatus comprising a pour receiving deck, at least two pairs of legs longitudinally spaced from each other along said deck, each pair of legs comprising two laterally aligned and spaced legs pivotally interconnected with said deck at the upper ends thereof for swinging movement toward and away from each other, a collapsible spreader bar extending between the lower end portions of the legs of each pair of legs for controlling the pivotal swinging of said legs toward and away from each other and locking said legs in an outward swung position, and wrecking means positioned below the spreader bars and vertically movable relative thereto for engagement therewith, each of said collapsible spreader bars comprising a pair of pivotally interconnected sections, said wrecking means including an upwardly projecting portion thereon engageable with the sections of the spreader bars at approximately the point of pivotal interconnection therebetween for effecting a pivoting of the sections toward each other and an inward swinging of the associated legs.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 including shoulder means on said wrecking means for the reception of one leg of each pair of legs upon an inward swinging of the legs so as to maintain one leg of each pair of legs higher than the other leg as the spreader bar is collapsed, thereby effecting a tilting of the deck to facilitate the removal thereof from laterally spaced supports.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the pivotally interconnected sections of each spreader bar include cooperating stop means thereon engageable upon a movement of the spreader sections beyond an aligned position with the joint therebetween located downwardly over center.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 including adjustable leg stops mounted on said deck for engagement of the legs thereagainst upon an outward swinging of the legs thereby cooperating with the spreader bars in fixing the outer position of said legs.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said legs are longitudinally adjustable,

16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said deck comprises a plurality of sections laterally adjustable relative to each other for varying the effective width of said deck.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said deck comprises a fixed longitudinally extending central section, said laterally adjustable sections being orientated one to each side of the fixed central section and selectively adjustable inward and outward laterally thereof.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 including means for selectively adjusting the length of said legs, and means for selectively adjusting the length of said collapsible spreader bar.

19. The apparatus of claim 11 including pairs of support beams underlying and supporting said deck, said pairs of beams extending transversely across said deck with the beams of each pair of beams being longitudinally adjustable relative to each other, said legs being pivotally engaged directly with said beams and adjustably positionable thereby.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 including means for selectively adjusting the length of said legs, and means for selectively adjusting the length of said collapsible spreader bar. 

1. In a concrete-forming system for use in conjunction with a pair of adjacent laterally spaced support girders incorporating enlarged heads and bases, a preassembled forming unit and a cooperating wrecking unit, said forming unit including a deck positionable between the girder heads, and adjustable leg means fixed thereto and depending therefrom, said leg means being selectively collapsible for movement downwardly through the girder heads and selectively extensible for engagement with the enlarged girder bases of the pair of girders for a support of the forming unit deck in general alignment with the upper edges of the girders, said wrecking unit being vertically movable upward between the girders and engageable with the leg means for effecting an automatic collapsing of the leg means upon a continued upward movement of the wrecking unit, said wrecking unit including a support deck for the reception of the forming unit subsequent to a collapsing of the forming unit leg means.
 2. Forming apparatus for use in conjunction with a pair of adjacent supports, said apparatus comprising a flat forming deck positionable between said supports, leg means pivotally engaged with and depending from said deck, positioning means engaged with said leg means for selectively extending said leg means for seated engagement on the adjacent supports and retracting said leg means for withdrawal from the supports, stabilizing means for fixing said leg means in the extended positions thereof, said leg means comprising at least two longitudinally spaced pairs of legs, the two legs of each pair of legs being laterally aligned with each other and pivotally engaged with the deck for swinging movement toward and away from each other so as to selectively pass between a pair of adjacent supports or engage therewith, said positioning means comprising an elongated sectional spreader bar engaged between the legs of each pair of legs, said spreader bar comprising at least two pivotally interconnected sections, each section being pivotally engaged with one of the legs of the associated pair of legs whereby folding of the sections on each other effects a movement of the legs toward each other and a movement of the sections into general longitudinal alignment with each other effects an outward swinging of the legs relative to each other, means for releasably fixing said spreader bar sections in generally longitudinal alignment with each other, said spreader bars being longitudinally adjustable, said deck being formed of a pair of coplanar adjacent longitudinally extending sections, said deck sections being laterally adjustable relative to each other so as to selectively increase or decrease the effective width of said deck, said deck sections including a pair of adjacent inner edges, the inner edges of said deck sections being of mating tongue and groove configurations with the mating orientation of the inner edges enabling a lateral adjustment of the deck sections relative to each other While maintaining an area of overlap therebetween.
 3. Forming apparatus for use in conjunction with a pair of adjacent supports, said apparatus comprising a flat forming deck positionable between said supports, leg means pivotally engaged with and depending from said deck, positioning means engaged with said leg means for selectively extending said leg means for seated engagement on the adjacent supports and retracting said leg means for withdrawal from the supports, stabilizing means for fixing said leg means in the extended position thereof, said leg means comprising at least two longitudinally spaced pairs of legs, the legs of each pair of legs being pivotally engaged with the deck for swinging movement toward and away from each other so as to selectively pass between a pair of adjacent supports or engage therewith, said positioning means comprising an elongated sectional spreader bar engaged between the legs of each pair of legs, said spreader bar comprising at least two pivotally interconnected sections, each section being pivotally engaged with one of the legs of the associated pair of legs whereby folding of the sections on each other effects a movement of the legs toward each other and a movement of the sections into general longitudinal alignment with each other effects an outward swinging of the legs relative to each other, means for releasably fixing said spreader bar sections in generally longitudinal alignment with each other, said deck being formed into longitudinally extending sections, said sections comprising a fixed central section and a laterally adjustable section to each side thereof, said laterally adjustable sections enabling a selected increase or decrease in the effective width of the deck, and means for selectively extending or retracting said adjustable sections relative to the fixed central section, said last mentioned means comprising a plurality of elongated shafts extending transversely across said central section, said shafts being rotatably supported on said central section with each shaft including oppositely threaded opposite ends, each shaft having the threaded opposite ends thereof threadedly engaged with the two adjustable sections whereby a common adjustment of the adjustable sections relative to the central section will be effected upon a rotation of said shafts.
 4. Forming apparatus for use in conjunction with a pair of adjacent supports, said apparatus comprising a flat forming deck positionable between said supports, leg means pivotally engaged with and depending from said deck, positioning means engaged with said leg means for selectively extending said leg means for seated engagement on the adjacent supports and retracting said leg means for withdrawal from the supports, stabilizing means for fixing said leg means in the extended position thereof, said leg means comprising at least two longitudinally spaced pairs of legs, the two legs of each pair of legs being laterally aligned with each other, one leg being located generally between the center line of the deck and each outer side edge thereof, the legs of each pair of legs being pivotally engaged with the deck for swinging movement toward and away from each other so as to selectively pass between a pair of adjacent supports or engage therewith, said positioning means comprising an elongated sectional spreader bar engaged between the legs of each pair of legs, said spreader bar comprising at least two pivotally interconnected sections, each section being pivotally engaged with one of the legs of the associated pair of legs whereby folding of the sections on each other effects a movement of the legs toward each other and a movement of the sections into general longitudinal alignment with each other effects an outward swinging of the legs relative to each other, means for releasably fixing said spreader bar sections in generally longitudinal alignment with each other, said stabilizing means comprising a stop mounted on the deck and associated with each leg to fix the outer sWung position of the leg, and wrecking means selectively engageable with the spreader bar associated with each pair of legs for effecting a controlled folding of the spreader bars and a corresponding inward swinging of the legs.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein each of said legs is longitudinally adjustable.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the spreader bars are longitudinally adjustable.
 7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the stops associated with the legs are adjustable so as to accommodate angular variations in the orientation of the legs.
 8. The apparatus of claim 4 including access openings defined in said deck in overlying relation to each pair of legs, and access panels selectively closing said access openings.
 9. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said deck is formed into longitudinally extending sections, said deck sections being laterally adjustable relative to each other so as to selectively increase or decrease the effective width of said deck.
 10. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said wrecking means comprises a vertically adjustable platform underlying the forming deck legs, and a vertically oriented elongated wrecking member mounted on said platform in vertical alignment beneath the joint between the pivotally interconnected spreader bar sections for selective engagement therewith upon an elevation of the wrecking means platform.
 11. Forming apparatus comprising a pour receiving deck, at least two pairs of legs longitudinally spaced from each other along said deck, each pair of legs comprising two laterally aligned and spaced legs pivotally interconnected with said deck at the upper ends thereof for swinging movement toward and away from each other, a collapsible spreader bar extending between the lower end portions of the legs of each pair of legs for controlling the pivotal swinging of said legs toward and away from each other and locking said legs in an outward swung position, and wrecking means positioned below the spreader bars and vertically movable relative thereto for engagement therewith, each of said collapsible spreader bars comprising a pair of pivotally interconnected sections, said wrecking means including an upwardly projecting portion thereon engageable with the sections of the spreader bars at approximately the point of pivotal interconnection therebetween for effecting a pivoting of the sections toward each other and an inward swinging of the associated legs.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 including shoulder means on said wrecking means for the reception of one leg of each pair of legs upon an inward swinging of the legs so as to maintain one leg of each pair of legs higher than the other leg as the spreader bar is collapsed, thereby effecting a tilting of the deck to facilitate the removal thereof from laterally spaced supports.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the pivotally interconnected sections of each spreader bar include cooperating stop means thereon engageable upon a movement of the spreader sections beyond an aligned position with the joint therebetween located downwardly over center.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13 including adjustable leg stops mounted on said deck for engagement of the legs thereagainst upon an outward swinging of the legs thereby cooperating with the spreader bars in fixing the outer position of said legs.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said legs are longitudinally adjustable.
 16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said deck comprises a plurality of sections laterally adjustable relative to each other for varying the effective width of said deck.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said deck comprises a fixed longitudinally extending central section, said laterally adjustable sections being orientated one to each side of the fixed central section and selectively adjustable inward and outward laterally thereof.
 18. The apparatus of claim 11 including means for selectively adjusting the length of said legs, and means for selectively adjusting thE length of said collapsible spreader bar.
 19. The apparatus of claim 11 including pairs of support beams underlying and supporting said deck, said pairs of beams extending transversely across said deck with the beams of each pair of beams being longitudinally adjustable relative to each other, said legs being pivotally engaged directly with said beams and adjustably positionable thereby.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19 including means for selectively adjusting the length of said legs, and means for selectively adjusting the length of said collapsible spreader bar. 